A bowl of creamy steel-cut oatmeal is a satisfying and healthy way to start the day, but the long cooking time makes these oats hard to execute on a weekday morning. Here, the slow cooker does all the work while you’re getting some shut-eye. Before bed, coat the inside of the cooker with butter to keep the oatmeal from sticking, then add in the oats, water, coconut or whole milk, and brown sugar. Stir it together, set the cooker to low, and wake up to a hot breakfast. Top it with dried fruit, nuts, or maple syrup, and blend up a fruit smoothie with all of your extra time.

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Whether you’re pressed for time, or wanting to spend your night with your friends and family and not around the stove, the slow cooker is the best way to get dinner on the table with minimal effort. See our some of our favorite tips.

This easy, classic chicken soup is made in the slow cooker, so it's more convenient than grandma's, but just as tasty. You can add egg noodles or your favorite type of rice to the golden broth and tender chicken and vegetables to bulk it up. Read more.